Process for tire mounting

Abstract

Described herein is a process for mounting a tire onto a wheel. The process comprises positioning the tire in respect to the wheel such that a first arc of the bottom bead extends between the wheel's top and bottom bead seats. Next, two fingers are placed in contact with the bottom bead at locations immediately adjacent to opposing ends of the first arc of the bottom bead. The first finger rotates about the central axis in a rotational direction away from the first arc of the bottom bead while applying a force in a direction of the bottom bead to advance all of the bottom bead below the top bead seat. These steps are repeated with the top bead to advance all of the top bead below the top bead seat. During the process, the first finger and the second finger may not contact any portion of the wheel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for mounting a tire ( 100 ) onto a wheel ( 200 ), said wheel comprising a top bead seat ( 210 ) forming a top bead seat plane, a bottom bead seat ( 220 ), and a central axis ( 230 ) which is substantially perpendicular to the top bead seat plane, said tire having a top bead ( 110 ) and a bottom bead ( 120 ) forming a bottom bead plane, the process comprising the steps of:
 a. positioning the tire in respect to the wheel such that the top bead seat plane intersects with the bottom bead plane to form a juncture angle ( 5 ) in a range of between 5° and 50°, and a first arc of the bottom bead ( 125 ) extends between the top bead seat and the bottom bead seat, wherein the first arc of the bottom bead comprises less than 50% of a circumference of the bottom bead;   b. placing a first finger ( 300 ) in contact with the bottom bead at a first location immediately adjacent to a first end of the first arc of the bottom bead ( 126 );   c. placing a second finger ( 400 ) in contact with the bottom bead at a second location immediately adjacent to a second end of the first arc of the bottom bead ( 127 );   d. rotating the first finger about the central axis in a first rotational direction ( 510 ) away from the first arc of the bottom bead while applying a force in a direction of the bottom bead seat to the bottom bead to advance all of the bottom bead below the top bead seat, wherein the second finger remains fixed while the first finger rotates in the first rotational direction;   e. placing a first arc of the top bead ( 115 ) below the top bead seat, wherein the first arc of the top bead comprises less than 50% of a circumference of the top bead;   f. placing the first finger in contact with the top bead at a first location immediately adjacent to a first end of the first arc of the top bead ( 116 );   g. placing the second finger in contact with the top bead at a second location immediately adjacent to a second end of the first arc of the top bead ( 117 );   h. rotating the first finger about the central axis in a second rotational direction ( 520 ) away from the first arc of the top bead while applying a force in a direction of the bottom bead seat to the top bead to advance all of the top bead below the top bead seat; and   wherein the first finger and the second finger do not contact any portion of the wheel at any time during the process, and step (a) occurs at any time before step (e).   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein step e further comprises rotating the second finger about the central axis in a third rotational direction ( 530 ) which is opposite the first rotational direction. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein step h further comprises rotating the second finger about the central axis in a fourth rotational direction ( 540 ) which is opposite the second rotational direction. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 i. inflating the tire with compressed air through a valve stem attached to the wheel in order to seat the top bead to the top bead seat and seat the bottom bead to the bead seat.   
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the wheel is fixed to keep the top bead seat plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 i. inflating the tire with compressed air through a valve stem attached to the wheel in order to seat the top bead to the top bead seat and seat the bottom bead to the bead seat.   
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the wheel is fixed to keep the top bead seat plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel is fixed to keep the top bead seat plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein step h further comprises rotating the second finger about the central axis in a fourth rotational direction ( 540 ) which is opposite the second rotational direction. 
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 i. inflating the tire with compressed air through a valve stem attached to the wheel in order to seat the top bead to the top bead seat and seat the bottom bead to the bead seat.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 9 , wherein the wheel is fixed to keep the top bead seat plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 i. inflating the tire with compressed air through a valve stem attached to the wheel in order to seat the top bead to the top bead seat and seat the bottom bead to the bead seat.   
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the wheel is fixed to keep the top bead seat plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the wheel is fixed to keep the top bead seat plane substantially perpendicular to the central axis.